A World First: Turkey’s Kızılelma Drone Just Did What No Other UCAV Has Done Before Plus Pro

On 29 November, Türkiye’s Baykar Bayraktar Kızılelma unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) successfully destroyed a jet-powered target drone using the indigenous Gökdoğan beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), developed by TÜBİTAK-SAGE.

Conducted at the Sinop Firing Area, the live-fire trial marks a critical milestone in the Kızılelma’s development, validating its capability to execute complex air-to-air engagements using an indigenous “kill chain.”

The test integrated three key Turkish platforms and subsystems, i.e., Baykar’s Kızılelma stealthy UCAV, Aselsan’s MURAD active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for detection and tracking, and TÜBİTAK-SAGE’s Gökdoğan missile for the kinetic intercept.

Turkish officials identified the event as the first recorded instance of a jet-powered UCAV successfully engaging a jet-powered aerial target with a BVR missile.

While UCAV development worldwide has largely centred on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and air-to-surface strike rikes, the Kızılelma trial represents one of the few current validations of unmanned offensive counter-air (OCA) capability at a system level, moving beyond simulations or captive-carry demonstrations.

The engagement followed a typical BVR sequence. First, the onboard MURAD AESA acquired the high-speed target drone and provided tracking data. Upon radar lock, the Kızılelma released the Gökdoğan missile from an external hardpoint. Telemetry and optical feeds confirmed a direct hit.

The trial also served as a live manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) event. Five Turkish Air Force F-16s from Merzifon flew with the Kızılelma to observe and model cooperative air operations, while a Bayraktar Akıncı added aerial monitoring. Senior leadership from the Turkish Air Force and industry — notably Aselsan, TÜBİTAK SAGE, Roketsan, and Baykar — oversaw the demonstration from the air.